In October 2021, Advanced Sunflower, from Huron, South Dakota, traveled to Cologne, Germany to exhibit at ANUGA. The bi-annual trade show is one of the largest, international food and beverages shows. During the show Advanced Sunflower participated in Food Export’s Food Show PLUS! service to enhance their international trade show results with introductions from Food Export’s onsite In-Market Representatives to qualified buyers, participate in market briefings, gain on-site assistance, and receive personalized post-show lead qualification services.

The South Dakota supplier also used Food Export’s Branded Program to defer the costs associated with attending and exhibiting at the international show. As a result of using the Food Show PLUS! services and taking advantage of the Branded Program, Advanced Sunflower is projecting $1,000,000 in sales over the next twelve months. The South Dakota Supplier also acquired new/promising leads that they are currently working with to secure export business.

According to Advanced Sunflower, “This was our first year exhibiting at ANUGA and we believe it was a success. We met with many new leads that we find promising. They appeared to be serious buyers and are currently working with them to secure new business. The ability to go out there and promote our brand and products with the help of the Branded Program is also key to our future export success. We were one of the few American companies exhibiting sunflower seeds out there and it has helped immensely with brand recognition. Overall, we hope this is the first of many more trade shows to come.”

Advanced Sunflower is a producer of sunflower seed products. They started participating in Food Export’s Branded Program in 2018 and have also attended Buyers Missions, webinars, and have products listed in the Online Product Catalog.

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.